Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg is shown here during a recent march to urge governments around the world to take more action against climate change. (Canadian Press)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

defending the planet

Global Climate Strike at City Hall Friday

Sep 26, 2019 | 4:45 PM

The Global Climate Strike is coming to Red Deer on Friday.

Facilitated locally by The Council of Canadians, the event is being held to show solidarity with participating students worldwide and bring awareness to the devastating effects scientists say climate change is having on the world.

“The Council of Canadians has always advocated for environmental justice and we are encouraged to see so many young people take the banner and go forward, bringing awareness and demanding change,” said Chris D’Lima, Chair of the Red Deer Chapter.

“Our local chapter is passionate about climate change and transitioning from fossil fuels to green energy. We’ve organized and hosted a number of presentations in Red Deer over the past year about this, and plan to hold another event this upcoming November.”

The Global Climate Strike began on Sept. 20 and has become synonymous with the sound-bites of Swedish teen Greta Thunberg.

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One local school board representative says there hasn’t been too much local chatter about the strike.

“Our schools have not heard anything about this, so there is not a lot of buzz about it within the shools. If students are absent, we determine whether they’re verified absences where parents have phoned in, or unverified absences,” says Bruce Buruma, Director of Community Relations, Red Deer Public Schools. “As for responding to those, it would depend on the individual student’s circumstances and school administration will deal with it accordingly.”

At Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, the potential for a local climate strike event has been on the division’s radar.

“We encourage students to have a voice, but we will be monitoring the situation to ensure students are safe,” says Haleigh Packer, division spokesperson.

Neither school board has taken any action in terms of delaying exams to allow students to participate.

According to reports, organizers estimated more than four million people participated in the strikes worldwide last Friday, including 1.4 million in Germany. Strikes are planned for at least 80 locations in Canada on Friday.

The Red Deer strike gets going at 2 p.m. on the west side of City Hall.